Volkswagen

Apple’s dream of producing driverless cars has moved forward, but not in the grandiose way it once hoped. The iPhone maker and Volkswagen are partnering to turn some of the German carmaker’s new T6 Transporter vans into self-driving shuttles for Apple employees.

Volkswagen on Thursday posted a new commercial to its US YouTube channel entitled “Volkswagen App-Connect saves a bromance,” which highlights support for connect apps and Apple’s CarPlay platform in its late model vehicles.

The clip features Adam Scott, from Parks and Recreation fame, and prolific big-screen star Michael Pena. The two are shown in a vehicle using Siri and other CarPlay features as they work through way through a humorous argument.

Volkswagen announced on Wednesday that its first CarPlay-enabled vehicles have begun shipping from production facilities. The German automaker says the first 2016 models featuring its new infotainment system will start landing in dealer showrooms in “late July 2015.”

It’s calling the new infotainment system “MIB II,” and in addition to CarPlay it will also support Android Auto and MirrorLink. In the press release, Volkswagen calls the new system “one of the most comprehensive suites of connected vehicle services and features available.”

Volkswagen has finally announced it will rollout Apple’s CarPlay software in its vehicles sometime in 2015, a year late to the party when it was noticeably absent from the list of initial CarPlay supporters. The European automaker made the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday, saying CarPlay will be alongside its rivals.

German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen is in talks with Apple on bringing CarPlay to its 2016 lineup, according to a new report. This is an important development as Volkswagen, itself notably absent in Apple’s press release announcing CarPlay, files as the biggest German automaker and the second largest automaker in the world.

According to a source with knowledge of the discussions, a formal announcement is expected in the coming months…

Apple’s iPad has been used for a number of various augmented-reality applications which impose real-world information over live video feed. The car industry seems to be particularly keen on embracing the Apple tablet. Cody last month told you about eKurzinfo, an Audi app that uses an iOS device camera to help identify parts and features on your car.

Today, Volkswagen is highlighting a similar augmented-reality software, but aimed at repair technicians and car dealers. It’s called MARTA (Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance) and Volkswagen showed it off ahead of the InsideAR Conference, the world’s largest augmented reality conference slated to run October 11, 2013 in Munich, Germany…